JustGoods celebrates three years of Listening Room concerts

JustGoods Fair Trade Store, 201 Seventh St., Rockford, celebrates the third anniversary of the “Listening Room” concert series with special music Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18. Admission is free for all of these concerts, although listeners are encouraged to make donations to the performers and purchase their CDs.

Listening Room acoustics are excellent, and comfortable seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Information may be obtained by phoning (815) 965-8903, emailing justgoodslistening@gmail.com, or visiting www.justgoods.info.

Festivities begin Friday at 7 p.m. when Richard Paul Thomas (www.richardpaulthomas.com) takes the stage. Richard, a nationally-known singer-songwriter based in Texas, has a deep connection with Rockford. He and his former wife Susan were favorites at Rockford’s legendary Charlotte’s Web concert room. A masterful guitarist as well as a brilliant songwriter and singer, Richard’s music spans a range of genres and emotional experiences, ranging from lighthearted fun to reflections on life and our place in the world. His work includes elements of R&B, jazz, ballads and good old rock ’n’ roll.

Three concerts will be held Saturday, Oct. 18.

At 3 p.m., the award-winning Council Choraleers (http://rockrivertimes.com/2014/09/03/council-choraleers-celebrates-love-hope-peace/), led by Dorothy Paige-Turner, perform a concert of songs celebrating love, hope and peace. A major goal for the chorus includes not only developing the natural voices of the youth, but creating excitement about singing, celebrating the human spirit, and establishing an environment that will foster unity, harmony, respect, and understanding among the various cultures and diverse demographics.

At 4 p.m., the Windswept Quintet (www.facebook.com/TheWindsweptQuintet) blends timbres and rich harmonies, sharing their love of instrumental music- Oboe, flute, bassoon, clarinet and horn. Some of the area’s most accomplished musicians comprise Windswept, and their music spans classical, sacred, folk and popular musical genres. “Although each instrument in a woodwind quintet is unique in tone color, it is the way in which the five musical instruments combine that makes the sound of a woodwind quintet so special.”

At 7 p.m., JustGoods favorites Rich and Vicki Ingle (the Comfort Food duo www.comfortfoodmusic.com) take the stage. Based in the Chicago area, Comfort Food charms audiences with their unique blend of original and classic traditional and contemporary folk, blues, and even pop and jazz music. Between them, they deliver rich vocals and fine fiddle, bass and guitar sounds. In addition to time-tested crowd-pleasers, Comfort Food will perform new compositions from their forthcoming double CD called Double Helping. For this special celebration, fiddle and mandolin ace Derek Gray will provide accompaniment. Rockford’s Trinadora duo (Jannie Nelson and Ron Holm, www.trinadora.com) will join their friends Rich and Vicki on some favorite songs.